KIKK (650 AM) to become city’s fifth all-sports station as part of new CBS network

Soon, Houston will have another all-sports radio station that will likely spend much of its time talking about the Texans. (Brett Coomer/Chronicle)

Houston is getting a fifth all-sports radio station.

And, no, I’m not joking.

CBS announced today that it will launch CBS Sports Radio next January, challenging ESPN Radio with a 24-hour, seven-day programming lineup that will air in Houston on KIKK (650 AM), a daytime-only signal that has hosted a variety of formats in recent years.

The full-time lineup won’t launch until the new year, but CBS will begin airing news updates in September on its locally owned stations, including KILT (610 AM), and on 67 stations owned by Cumulus Media. KILT will retain its local programming and augment it with CBS Sports Radio programs for overnights and weekends when the network launches. The network will have about 89 affiliates when it launches in January, a spokeswoman said.

“(KIKK) has been one of the most successful daytimers in the company,” said Sarah Frazier, CBS Radio Houston’s market manager. “But this move fits perfectly into our portfolio. It makes a lot of sense.”

CBS has not announced programming plans for the new network, but spokeswoman Karen Mateo said it could include local programming from CBS’ 10 owned-and-operated sports radio stations, including WFAN-AM in New York, WSCR-AM in Chicago, KRLD-FM in Dallas, WIP-FM in Philadelphia and WBZ-FM in Boston along with 610 AM in Houston.

KIKK-AM will continue with its current lineup of syndicated programming through the end of the year. Under Federal Communications Commission rules, the station is limited to daytime hours between sunup and sundown, or roughly from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. during the summer.

As for KILT-AM, “We remain committed to having the most live and local programming in town,” said Gavin Spittle, KILT-AM’s program director. “It will enhance what we will do, because we will have access to CBS guests like Dan Marino during football season and Greg Anthony during the NCAA Tournament. It gives us resources that we did not have before.”

KILT now airs programming from Sports Byline USA after 10 p.m. on weekdays and after 11 p.m. on weekends. Spittle said the addition of the network could give local hosts a chance for network exposure on CBS-owned stations and on the 67 Cumulus stations, including KNBR in San Francisco, KTCK in Dallas and WCNN in Atlanta, that will be part of the new CBS Sports Radio network.

Houston’s four existing all-sports stations are KILT-AM, KBME (790 AM), which is owned by Clear Channel; KFNC (97.5 FM), which is in the process of being sold to David Gow’s Gow Communications and is an ESPN Radio affiliate; and Gow’s KGOW (1560 AM), the flagship of Yahoo! Sports Radio.

KIKK–AM has aired a variety of formats over the years. It aired country music during the 1970s and ’80s, including simulcasts with KIKK-FM, and aired business news, talk, including the Howard Stern Show, CNN Headline News and, in recent months, syndicated talk from Neal Boortz, Michael Smerconish, Todd Schnitt and Clark Howard.

85 Responses

Houston is not a sports town, period. Philadelphia, Boston, NY… those cities could support 5 sports radio stations. Houston, not so much. I don’t listen to the locals, since I don’t care about local sports. I listen on satellite radio.

Joe Schwartz, there is an old saying in Texas. “There’s trains comin and trains goin. Feel free to catch the first one out of town.”
Houston is a big sports city. We Houston fans have been the victims of some horrible team owners. Houston fans have followed our professional sports teams, despite the mistakes made by owners and management.
Finally we got rid of Bud Adams and Drayton McLane.
The Texans should compete for a Super Bowl berth.
And new Astros ownership seems to have a direction for the team.
The bean counters usually know a market. If no one cared about sports in Houston, another radio station would not be going to an all sports-talk format.

I can’t compare Houston to many other cities but Houston’s sports radio market seems pretty healthy. On a few recent trips driving around and through Dallas, there was nothing on the radio dial up there that’s worth getting excited about. And this in a town with only one pro team (Texans) that is really doing well.

Winning is cyclical. All teams go through ups and downs. Astros & Rockets are trying to get back to contending. Texans and Dynamo are proven winners. While it would be nice to have all of them winning at the same time, it’s likely not going to happen.

joseph you are obviously a transplant yankee that has a northeast bias, you kinda gave yourself away with the not so much comment, if you like it so good up there, get on a plane and get back up there lol

Nah. Rome has lost appeal not only Houston but nationally as well. Houston isn’t the only market that’s dropped him. I mean his dust up with Stern was forgotten in 2 days. He made a name for himself getting punked by Jim Everett and he tried it again with Stern. Except this time nobody cared.

Joseph Schwartz — that is such a stupid thing to say based only on stereotypes and our own transplant preferences. If Philly and Boston are so much better sports towns than Houston, how come Houston produces so many more pro athletes than those cities? How come rates and numbers of participants in high school sports is so much higher in Houston than those places?

I would have to disagree. Houston is all about the local radio. Why is 610 AM consistently #1 in terms of listeners? Because they have local programming all day long. They even got rid of the Jim Rome show. People want to talk Texans year round. 790 moved to get rid of national shows fairly recently. Transplants are mostly the ones to listen to the national programs. If you were raised in Houston or spent most of your life here, you are likely listening to the local stations.

That’s silly. I assume they’ve done a thorough market analysis which disagrees with your armchair conclusion. If the other 4 weren’t doing well the market would dictate a fifth wouldn’t be launched but they are doing well. Also, Houston is a larger media market than the areas you mentioned with the exception of NYC.

Glad someone else said what I have been thinking…that Josh Innes has completely ruined the 610 afternoon show…I used to enjoy my drive home listening to 610…but apparently the management at 610 is trying to capture the pre-teen market with Mr. Innes immature rants and shouting. I met Rich Lord at a Celebrity Roast and he commented to me that he gets the same comments ALL the time. Charlie P. is pretty good at 790 am. I welcome a new station. As regards Josh Innes, does Nickleodeon have a radio station?

If I need a nap I will listen to Charlie. That guy is as boring and bland as vanilla. That might be why you hate Josh. I like josh because I dont take him seriously he’s funny and he isn’t pro Houston. I’m die hard Houston sports but I appreciate a different perspective that isn’t always pro Houston. I mean the same people who kill Vandy for being a homer are the same ones who hate people who aren’t.

Wal Mart is #1, so is McDonalds…that ought to tell you the audience that this guy appeals to. All I am saying is that men who enjoy a spirited, but intelligent conversation about sports can’t stand Innes because he panders to the same people who’s only exposure to culture is the Kardashian Show. If that sells, God bless 610, but to the rest of us who actually read books and don’t live paycheck to paycheck, he is ridiculous. (You can ask Rich Lord yourself as I did at one of the celebrity roasts)

Your comparison of 2 corporate power houses as Wal-Mart and Mcdonalds is really reaching. You’re entitled to your opinion but numbers don’t lie. I myself am a 38 year old chef that does well for himself in a nice restaurant…no I’m no fry guy at McDonalds and am proud of my accomplishments and I think Innes is hilarious. I think its even more hilarious when people get their panties in a bunch because they don’t like something different. If you like dull mundane talk then Ol Charlie is your man.

Don’t talk about what Houston is or is not, apparently you are not a Houstonian, or a Texan. Take a one way trip to your satellite. ith that said, why are you reading a local paper? Enjoy your satellite

I might go as a casual (I.e. free seats) fan or with my dad. But, I will never follow them like I used to. No more season tix for me. I cannot support an AL team. I would rather watch minor league ball.

I too will be done with the Astros following this season. I have no interest in AL baseball.

I haven’t been to a Skeeters game yet (though I only live about 20 minutes from the stadium). I will definitely be rectifying that situation before the season is out. But I am curious — do they use the DH in that league?

5 stations, one station worth of talent. If you took Lance in the early slot, Rich in the middle, and Charle late, you would have a good station. Some hosts are marginal, and some just need to get off the air. I hardly listen to the 610 anymore, especially in the afternoon, I just cannot take Josh Innes for more than a segment before I go back up the dial.

Pretty funny that joseph is so unpopular because he believes that five sports stations in Houston is way too much (it is). Also funny that after all these years, the best retort most “native Texans” have is calling someone a “Yankee” or “biased” northerner from some upper region. Really? I’ve been around here a LONG time and used to listen exclusively to local sports radio (for much longer than most “natives”). However, if you take out Lance Zierlien, Adam Wexler and Charlie Pallilo (and sometimes ND Kalu), the talent level of sports radio in Houston is putrid.

And yes, national stations DO talk about Houston sports consistently – and even more when they’re winning (which basketball hasn’t done for years; baseball for 5-6 years; only the Texans have made the airwaves consistently since their inception – and even more now that they’re GOOD!). It’s pretty pathetic that calling someone a northerner and telling them to “leave if you don’t like it” is still the #1 comeback = as if “natives” have some special intelligence/understanding/recognition that “outsiders” don’t.

I agree. Save a few good men, the talent on the air sucks. That being said, there are four stations on air with advertisers paying enough to keep them on the air. I don’t always agree that customer knows best, but this one is pretty straight-forward. If there wasn’t a market for them all, at least one would die pretty quickly and it hasn’t happened in the current paradigm. Radio stations have not been known to keep a sick animal alive and are quite adept at turning on a dime…. You should also take note that the stream of insults came after someone made the stupid comment that Houston wasn’t a good sports town. That seems as equally uninformed as the assertions that you are making.

Yeah, we natives do, for the most part. Have a problem with it? Besides, it’s hard to find a “native” here any more. I don’t hear a lot of complaints against folks from outside here much anymore, except the ones who move here and instantly start whining about how much better it was back home, and how they “did it” back home. Obvisouly the way they “did it” back home didn’t work…so they’re here. So what?

Jay, you sound bitter about something – and it’s not a 5th radio station.

I’ve been here a LONG time and have never been considered a whiner. At most, I’ll point out things that wouldn’t last in other parts of the country (many techs in the service/repair industry here is absolutely ludicrous and wouldn’t last 10 minutes elsewhere – but here many “natives” just laugh because they don’t know any better), and educated people generally agree = especially those that have traveled outside Texas. Please keep in mind that without these “outsiders” Houston wouldn’t be the thriving city it’s become.

And yes, 5 stations might financially make sense along the line but the TALENT itself in this city is very, very, very lacking overall. Period. It doesn’t matter WHAT they’re talking about, there is a severe dearth of radio talent in Houston, so adding a 5th station isn’t going to be an “improvement” over anything.

Josh Innes has ruined 610 soooo much that its the number one sports show in Houston and #3 of all other shows. Hmmm curse that Innes. I like Innes because I don’t take him serious. It’s a schtick and all the people who hate him make me laugh because he’s got yall hook line and sinker!
I also appreciate the fact it’s not all pro houston and there’s outside perspective on our teams. People crush Vandy for his pro Texans take but hate on everyone who doesntbwear rose colored Texans glasses.

Actually, 650 might be only the 4th all sports-talk radio station since 97.5 mainly consists of degenerate gamblers (Fred Faour) and station program directors (Dave Tepper and Julie Takahashi) who just happen to come on and talk sports and throw their “takes” around mainly based on having watched SportsCenter some 30 minutes before coming on air. I’m talking to you, Dave and Julie. I do envy the fact that you are able to hire yourselves for a job that you are clearly not qualified to do. Can I be a program director too? I hear it’s a great path to becoming an on-air radio “personality”.

At least it’s not another hispanic station. There are already 14 or 15 of them in Houston. KIKK 650 AM was a far back as the 60′s playing nothing but country music. It was called radio 65. One of the original DJ’s was Joe Ladd, and “Buffalo” Bill Bailey. The old studio was on Southmore Street in Pasadena.

why is it so many people got offended when someone makes a contrarian comment? the next thing you know, they want you to get the hell out of town and go back where you belong. i imagine it’s the same type of people with the political bumperstickers on their vehicles. maybe you guys recognize my sticker while driving around town. it says “limbaugh snorts oxycontin”

What would be really great is a station that gives news, weather and traffic reports. As it stands currently, whenever I need weather or traffic all I can find is station after station with shock jocks ranting about how horrible Obama is.

WILL WE GET ANY BLACK/ AFRICIAN AMERICAN TALK SHOW HOSTS FULL TIME NOW. I LIKE NICK FROM KANSAS ON 610, BUT ENOUGH OF THE B/S!!!! HIRE HOME GROWN LOCAL TALENT. IM SO TIRED OF A GUY TRYING TO TELL ME HOW I SHOULD FEEL AFTER A WIN OR A LOSS. NORTHEAST FANS ARE NOT TRUE SPORTS FANS BECAUSE THEY TALK LOUD 0R THEIR TEAMS BEEN THERE SINCE WHO KNOWS WHEN.AND JUST FOR THE CONVERSATION, RALPH COOPER IS THE GODFATHER OF SPORTS TALK…IF YOU DONT KNOW, NOW YOU KNOW!!!!!!

There’s Carl Dukes but he has to go on air every day with two station producers who decided to hire themselves as sports talk co-hosts. Poor Carl. If he wasn’t a Spurs and Cowboys fan, I’d have more sympathy for the guy.

I wonder if Joebully is actually Josh Innes disquised as a troll….anyway, it’s ok not to like Josh. I do not like his style of radio talk, can’t stand it one bit and I won’t listen to him anymore. I only listen when he’s on vacation or sick. I cannot stand Charlie on 790, too boring and cynical. If LZ could be on 24-7, it would be great. Hopefully with this new station, they’ll move the “home repair guy” to 650 and bring on some new, bright hosts for sat/sun morning. I’ve got nothing against Tom, I just like to liste to Sports radio on a sports radio station…..

Great. Another sports radio station that will talk about nothing but Texans football all year long. I went home to D.C. for holiday a few weeks ago and it was refreshing to put on FM 106.7 and listen to people talk about baseball, hockey, basketball and local high school/college teams. Ralph Cooper on AM 1460 is the only radio guy that covers all sports and not just the Texans.

I wish 610 would get more houston or at least texas personality on the air. this gavin guy keeps bringing in these young shock guys that demean women and use filthy language. It’s “arse” this and “arse” that, and “bangin’” this and “bangin’” that. These Stern & Rome wannabes make 610 an impossible choice for families.

and i think that’s sad for an AM sports radio network that the Texans contract with.

let the texans get bad again and these guys will be gone – and so will the ratings. yuck.

It won’t be 24/7. Rules about daytimers go back to the Communications Act of 1933, which is why some stations have to power down at nightfall to prevent interference with stations several hundred miles away. It’s a relic of a different era in communications.